Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card Review: Is It Good for Delta Customers?
Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card Review
The Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card is the $0-annual-fee Delta Skymiles card. Though lacking various benefits of the other cards, it still offers a great bang for your buck.
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For rates and fees of Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card, please click here
Quick facts
- Earning rate: Earn 2X Miles per dollar spent on Delta purchases and at restaurants, now worldwide. Earn 1X Mile on all other eligible purchases.
- Welcome offer: Earn 10,000 bonus miles after you spend $500 in purchases on your new Card in your first 3 months.
- Annual fee: $0
- APR: 15.74%-24.74% Variable
- Other features: No foreign transaction fees, 20% back on in-flight purchases, pay with miles at a discounted price, car rental loss and damage insurance, purchase protection, extended warranty
- Terms apply
Pros
Cons
Is The Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card worth it?
The Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card is the only $0-annual-fee Delta credit card, and is worth your consideration if you're a low spender who occasionally travels with the airline. This card is lacking several of the impressive travel features included with other Delta SkyMiles cards. However, solid rewards in everyday spending categories for consumers who are opposed to paying an annual fee.
On the other hand, if you are a frequent Delta flyer or check multiple bags with the carrier throughout the year, you should consider applying for a premium Delta SkyMiles credit card. Or, if you're simply looking for a decent rewards card but aren't a Delta loyalist, you may want to consider other top travel cards.
Who is the Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card best for?
Travelers who occasionally fly with Delta but don't want to commit to paying an annual fee are likely to find value with the Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card. This card offers a solid rewards rate, easily attainable welcome offer, and some other valuable credit card perks that not many no-annual-fee cards can compete with.
Welcome offer
Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Cardholders can Earn 10,000 bonus miles after you spend $500 in purchases on your new Card in your first 3 months.
We estimate this offer to be worth approximately $130, which isn't bad for a $0-annual-fee credit card.
Note, if you want to earn a lot of SkyMiles at once, the other Delta credit cards frequently feature limited time offers that are far more generous than this offer.
How easy are these miles to redeem? See our redemption section below.
What's it worth?: Around $130 in Delta airfare
Who's eligible to earn it?: The welcome offer for this card is not available for cardmembers who have had this card or previous versions of this card in the past, or the Delta SkyMiles Options Credit Card. If you currently have or have had in the last 90 days the Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card, the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card, or the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, you are also ineligible for this offer. The number of American Express cards you've opened and closed and other factors may also be considered when determining your eligibility for this offer.
Annual fee
One of the best perks of the Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card is that it has a $0 annual fee. While that means cardholders must forgo some of the luxurious travel benefits that come with paid cards, fee-averse consumers can still find plenty of value in what this card has to offer.
Earning rate
The Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card lets cardholders earn Delta Skymiles on every purchase.
Users Earn 2X Miles per dollar spent on Delta purchases and at restaurants, now worldwide. Earn 1X Mile on all other eligible purchases.
While this earning rate is lower than what other Delta SkyMiles cards and most travel cards offer, it's not bad for a $0-annual-fee card.
However, if you spend a lot and travel frequently, you should consider paying the annual fee for a better travel credit card. As you can see from our chart below, you can earn more rewards per dollar with many annual fee cards:
Average rewards earned per $1 spent
We estimate an earning rate for the average consumer based on U.S. Bureau of Labor data and multiply that by the value of each card’s points or miles.
What Are Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card miles worth?
Delta SkyMiles are fairly valuable. On average, we estimate a single Delta Skymile to be worth 1.3 cents. There are a variety of other redemption options available, but none yield as high of a value as travel redemptions. Delta SkyMiles will vary in value depending on how you choose to redeem them. Typically you'll get the most value from your miles when redeeming them for travel.
Redeeming rewards
Delta SkyMiles are fairly easy to redeem as far as airline miles go. The easiest and most valuable way to redeem your SkyMiles is for travel purchases. This will give you the most value for your points, and also allows you the option to transfer your points to any of Delta's travel partners.
The number of miles required for an award flight varies, but you can find flights for as little as 4,500 miles one-way.
As you can see from our chart below, you'll get a great value for your miles on most types of flight awards — around 1.3 on average for domestic economy tickets. The most valuable use of miles is for First Class/Business seats on international routes:
Value of Delta SkyMiles
Domestic
International
Average
Round Trip Main Cabin | First/Business | One Way Main Cabin | First/Business | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hub to Hub | 1.0 cents | 0.7 cents | 1.2 cents | 1.3 cents |
| Hub to Non-Hub | 1.2 cents | 1.5 cents | 1.3 cents | 1.5 cents |
| Non-Hub to Non-Hub | 1.3 cents | 1.3 cents | 0.9 cents | 1.4 cents |
Domestic
Round Trip Main Cabin | First/Business | One Way Main Cabin | First/Business | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hub to Hub | 1.0 cents | 0.7 cents | 1.2 cents | 1.3 cents |
| Hub to Non-Hub | 1.2 cents | 1.5 cents | 1.3 cents | 1.5 cents |
| Non-Hub to Non-Hub | 1.3 cents | 1.3 cents | 0.9 cents | 1.4 cents |
International
Round Trip Main Cabin | First/Business | One Way Main Cabin | First/Business | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hub to Hub | 1.5 cents | 4.0 cents | 4.2 cents | 5.9 cents |
| Hub to Non-Hub | 1.6 cents | 3.2 cents | 2.4 cents | 3.7 cents |
| Non-Hub to Non-Hub | 1.3 cents | 1.9 cents | 3.7 cents | 3.4 cents |
Average
Round Trip Main Cabin | First/Business | One Way Main Cabin | First/Business |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.3 cents | 2.1 cents | 2.3 cents | 2.9 cents |
You have a few other ways to redeem your SkyMiles:
Seat upgrades — You can use your Delta SkyMiles for cabin upgrades either when you book your ticket or after. However, this is a lesser-value redemption option.
Other options — You have numerous other options for redeeming your Delta Skymiles, but none will be quite as valuable as redeeming for travel. Still, if you choose to redeem your rewards in other ways, you have the following choices:
- Delta Vacations packages
- Magazine subscriptions
- SkyMiles Experiences
- SkyMiles Marketplace (currently on hold)
- SkyMiles Experiences (currently on hold)
Other benefits
A nice perk of the Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card, cardmembers can receive a 20% back statement credit for in-flight Delta purchases. These include things like food, beverages and audio headsets. For regular Delta travelers, this can be a particularly useful benefit and can end up saving you a considerable amount when you fly.
The Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card lets you take up to $50 off the price of your flight for every 5,000 miles redeemed with Pay with Miles. In order to access this benefit, you'll need to book directly on delta.com. This feature further increases the value of this $0-annual-fee Delta Skymiles card, which can save you money at every turn.
You won't need to worry about paying foreign transaction fees with the Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card. Other cards charge a 3% fee on every purchase made internationally, which can quickly add up, even on a short trip.
You'll have access to car rental insurance when you use your Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card for damage or theft of a rental vehicle. Be sure to read all important exclusions and restrictions.
Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card members will have 24/7 access to the Global Assist Hotline for travel emergencies.
Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Cardholders will have exclusive access to ticket presales and cardmember-only events in major cities. Events include things like Broadway shows, concerts, sporting events and more. Visit americanexpress.com/entertainment for more information.
Purchases made using your Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card can be covered from accidental damage or theft. Exclusions and restrictions apply.
When you pay using your Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card, you can be eligible to receive an extended warranty on your purchases. Exclusions and restrictions apply.
This feature allows cardholders to send money and split purchases with Venmo or PayPal users directly from the Amex App. Enrollment required.
Cardholders have two options to pay your card balance. With the Pay It option, you can pay off small purchase amounts. Alternatively, with Plan It, you can split up large purchases for a fixed monthly fee.
Drawbacks
- Missing paid Delta SkyMiles card perks — While the Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card does come with a limited number of perks, it's missing many of the valuable benefits that come with paid Delta SkyMiles cards. Things like free checked bags, flight credits and priority boarding are not included with this card, but are offered with the paid cards.
- Low welcome offer — Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card holders are eligible to Earn 10,000 bonus miles after you spend $500 in purchases on your new Card in your first 3 months. While this can be a nice perk of a $0-annual-fee card, it's still much lower than what the paid Delta SkyMiles cards offer.
Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card credit score and credit limit
The Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card requires a Excellent credit score. You'll want to make sure your credit score is high enough before you apply for the Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card to increase your chances of acceptance and avoid a potentially negative impact on your credit score.
Once accepted, the Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card limit will vary depending on your spending habits and credit history.
Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card vs. competitors
As a consumer, you have the option of applying for any credit card — not just the Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card. To help better inform you of your options, we've compared this card against some of its top competitors.
Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card vs. Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card
Verdict: More rewarding for frequent Delta travelers
The Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card may be the better option for cardholders who check at least four bags per year on Delta flights. With your card, your first checked bag is free on Delta-operated flights, which can save you $60 on baggage for a round-trip flight.
If you fly Delta frequently enough to warrant getting a co-branded credit card, the annual fee in the second year of Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card membership will pay for itself if you take just two round trip flights per year.
How does it compare?
- Welcome offer: 40,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $1,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 3 months. (better)
- Earning rate: Earn 2X Miles on Delta purchases, at restaurants worldwide, including takeout and delivery and at U.S. supermarkets. (better)
- Rewards earned/$1 spent: $0.018 (better)
- Annual fee: $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $99. (worse)
- Other benefits: Free checked bag on Delta flights for up to nine people, no foreign transaction fees, up to $100 Delta flight credit, Priority Boarding, 20% in-flight discount (better)
- Terms apply
For rates and fees of Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card, please click here
Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card vs. Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card
Verdict: Far superior benefits with a high annual fee
The Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card is best for consumers who prefer to travel with a companion, take several Delta flights per year (with checked bags), and spend over $25,000 annually. Despite its high annual fee of $250, the extra benefits this card offers make it well worth it.
The card provides a free round-trip companion ticket each year, 10,000 bonus miles when you spend at least $25k on your card each year (up to twice per calendar year), and the ability to earn extra Medallion Qualifying Miles (MQMs). That said, if you'd rather not pay an annual fee and are satisfied with lesser benefits, you should stick with the Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card.
How does it compare?
- Welcome offer: 50,000 Bonus Miles and 5,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) after you spend $2,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 3 months. (better)
- Earning rate: Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels. Earn 2X Miles at restaurants worldwide, including takeout and delivery and at U.S. supermarkets. Earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases. (better)
- Rewards earned/$1 spent: $0.019 (better)
- Annual fee: $250 (worse)
- Other benefits: Free checked bag on Delta flights for up to nine people, no foreign transaction fees, $39 Sky Club discount, companion certificate, Global Entry/TSA Precheck credit, status boost, (better)
- Terms apply
For rates and fees of Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card, please click here
Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card vs. Capital One® Savor® Cash Rewards Credit Card
Verdict: A nice option for consumers who don't want to be locked into a single airline
If you aren't particularly loyal to Delta, we recommend the Capital One® Savor® Cash Rewards Credit Card instead of the Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card. Cardmembers can Earn unlimited 4% cash back on dining, entertainment & popular streaming services, plus 3% at grocery stores and 1% on other purchases.
Though there is a $95 annual fee, it still offers a much more impressive earning rate than the Delta card. The Capital One® Savor® Cash Rewards Credit Card also has 0% foreign transaction fees, which can be great for travelers looking to minimize fees when using their card abroad.
How does it compare?
- Welcome offer: Earn a one-time $300 cash bonus once you spend $3,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening (better)
- Earning rate: Earn unlimited 4% cash back on dining, entertainment & popular streaming services, plus 3% at grocery stores and 1% on other purchases. (better)
- Rewards earned/$1 spent: $0.019 (better)
- Annual fee: $95 (worse)
- Other benefits: 0% foreign transaction fees (similar)
Should you get the Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card?
You should get the Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card if you're a frequent Delta flier but don't want to pay an annual fee. It's true that the other paid Delta SkyMiles cards offer more benefits for cardholders, but their annual fees can make card membership more of a commitment.
If you're okay with receiving minimal Delta benefits to avoid paying an annual fee, this card can be a great option. However, if you often fly Delta and don't mind an annual fee, consider the other Delta SkyMiles cards or other travel cards instead.
Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card FAQs
What credit score is needed for Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card?
The Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card requires a Excellent credit score.
Is the Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card good?
The Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card is good for frequent Delta fliers who don't want to pay an annual fee on their card.
Is the Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card metal?
No, the Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card is not metal.
Do I lose my Delta SkyMiles if I cancel my American Express card?
You will not lose your Delta SkyMiles if you cancel your American Express card. Your Delta SkyMiles never expire once you have earned them.
For rates and fees of Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card, please click here
For rates and fees of Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card, please click here
For rates and fees of Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card, please click here
The information related to Capital One® Savor® Cash Rewards Credit Card has been independently collected by ValuePenguin and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this card prior to publication. Terms apply to American Express credit card offers. See americanexpress.com for more information.
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How We Calculate Rewards: ValuePenguin calculates the value of rewards by estimating the dollar value of any points, miles or bonuses earned using the card less any associated annual fees. These estimates here are ValuePenguin's alone, not those of the card issuer, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the credit card issuer.
Example of how we calculate the rewards rates: When redeemed for travel through Ultimate Rewards, Chase Sapphire Preferred points are worth $0.0125 each. The card awards 2 points on travel and dining and 1 point on everything else. Therefore, we say the card has a 2.5% rewards rate on dining and travel (2 x $0.0125) and a 1.25% rewards rate on everything else (1 x $0.0125).